“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I’m about to do today?”

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Make a Difference

Dear Blog, I love this story so much. Must share with you.

There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs. Thompson. And as she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie. She looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard. Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners he is a joy to be around."

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her presents for Teacher’s Day wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume.

But she stifled the children's' laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.

Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom, used to." After the children, left she cried for at least an hour,. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children.

Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class. A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, second in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honours. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was little longer. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.

The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy gave her during that fateful Teacher’s Day.

They hugged each other and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. Thank you so much for make me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

The purpose of life is not to be happy - but tomatter, to be productive, to be useful and to have it make some difference that you have lived at all. The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. You can never tell what type of impact you may have on another's life by your actions, or lack of actions. Please consider this fact in your venture through life and just try to make a difference in someone else's life today.

SMALL NOTE TO ALL

Teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite their students to cross, then having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own.

An engineer by first training, we are inclined toward solving not only our own "environmental problems, but also the "roots of the problems" through socio-human dimensions. You have highlighted not only the sources of the problems but the "machines" that perpetuate those problems. It is very precise and full of information. Best of all, it is in Bahasa Malaysia.

Your training of accepting situation shall help them to reduce pressure & achieve better results. Programs done by you so far has proven this to some of our staff. They have made a lot of changes for their own benefit. They have managed to change the way they see all situation around them in a positive way. The implication is they have managed to think creatively and contribute towards making a better life directly for them & indirectly for us. PPB3K manage to guide the staff to acquire self control for success rather than blaming situation.

Mohd Hazim, Partner, Efficient Corporate Resources

PPB3K is a great work in the journey to add value to the world.

Izam Yusof, Marketer

Personally, I thought that it is brilliant! I can see your passion in it and worth to share with others.

The facilitator is very spontaneous and friendly when presenting the contents of the course. I really like the diagram about the structure of self (conscious mind, sub-conscious mind, unconscious mind and physical) and it make sense now.

Teh Kum Kee, Student

It is interesting that the word ‘work’ often has a pejorative spin, as in ‘That’s not fun, that’s work.” Yet, at the same time we are thrilled when we actually get something to work.” Really, word ‘work’ is a matter of paradigm. Glad to know that you are in the business on how to make work is fun.